Notre Dame spokesman: 'Everything is burning, nothing will remain'
There's a bit of hope for one small piece of Notre Dame's legacy.
The 800-year-old church caught fire Monday afternoon, and soon, its entire roof and iconic spire had collapsed and the woodwork inside was burning. A spokesman soon put that devastation into stark reality, telling French media that "Everything is burning, nothing will remain from the frame," per The Associated Press.
Reports have suggested the fire may be linked to extensive renovations underway on the cathedral's spire. Yet it's also those same renovations that may have saved a small chunk of Notre Dame. Just four days ago, cranes lifted 16 bronze statues from the cathedral's heights and took them away for renovation, AP says. Still, with AFP reporting the statues would be "put on display inside the cathedral" and taken away "two by two" for repairs, it's unclear just how safe they are.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Paris' Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire also said emergency workers were trying to salvage artwork from inside the cathedral as it burned, and France24 said nearly all of it was saved. A journalist for a French magazine tweeted that salvaged relics included the crown of thorns, and the Catholic News Agency reported the same. France's junior interior minister told Reuters that no injuries have been reported so far.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published